Shipping-case.



Patganted May 28. l90l.

B. L. SWOPE, Decd.

]. S. SWOPE Executrix.

SHIPPING CASE.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1900.

Js ssz'eifin ope ereaufrz'x I z'nvenior deceased.

Wm MW UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JESSIE S. SWOPE, OF LOUISVILLEJKENTUOKY, EXECUTRIX OEBENJAMIN L.

. SWOPE, DECEASED.

SHIPPING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 675,143, dated May 28,1901.

Application filed November 6, 1900. Serial No. 35,733. (No model.)

To aZZ whom/1 2$ may concern:

Be it known that BENJAMIN L. Sworn, late a citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jeffersonand State of Kentucky,invented a new and useful Shipping-Case, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a novel shippingcrate designed with particularreference to the transportation of eggs. It is well understood byproducers, shippers, and dealers that the transportation of eggs isordinarily accompanied by considerable loss incident to breakage and tothe spoiling of the eggs en route. It is equally well known that one ofthe most effective ways of preserving them is to change their positionsat intervals.

With these facts in view the present invention is directed to theproduction of a shipping-crate which, while embodying an inexpensiveconstruction, will prevent the eggs from being broken by rough handlingof the case or crate and which will under theimpulse of sudden jars orvibrations effect more or less movement of the eggs to aid in theirpreservation.

To this end the invention consists in providing a case witha pluralityof egg-holders or cell members which are resiliently mounted within thecase in a manner to permit them to yield under an abnormal jar thereofand to subsequentlyresume their normal positions.

The invention consists in certain other peculiarities of constructionand arrangement, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated a preferredembodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional viewthrough a case in the form of a half-barrel, showing one tier orlayer ofcell members in elevation and with its complement of eggs, Fig. 2 is acentral vertical section of thesubject-matter of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is adetail perspective View of one of the cell members or egg-holders.

I Referring to the numerals of reference employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the views, 1 indicates a cylindricalshipping-case-as, for instance, a barrel, halfbarrel, or other similarshipping-receptacle of like or generally analogous construction. Withinthis case are arranged egg-holders or cell members 2 in tiers,preferably separated by removable horizontal partitions 3, ofcardboard,paper,or other suitable material. Each of the tiers comprisesa pair of cell members 2, which in the present embodiment of theinvention are inherently resilient to an effective degree, inasmuch asthey are constructed of cardboard or pasteboard strips 4 and 5, arrangedin two series, disposed in right angular relation and connected one tothe other to form a series of normally rectangular cells 6 for thereception of the eggs 7. Before being placed in the case each of thecells is of a generally rectangular form, but with the strips cut awayat one side of the member to form a comparatively deep triangular recess8, the sides of which are defined by those portions of the diagonalstrips 9 and 10 which extend from the intersection of said strips to theinner cor ners of the member. By cutting the cell member in thisparticular form short sections of strips will be left upon the outerends of each of the diagonal strips 9 and 10 to form what are termedbearing-feet 11 and 12 at the corners opposite the recessed side of the"member and similar feet 13 and 14 at those corners of the member fromwhich the recess 8 extendsinwardly. There is now a cell member which isinherently resilient and is capable of being collapsed when subjected topressure in one direction in the manner of an ordinary egg-holder, butwhich when subjected to pressure in the opposite direction will yield orbend, but with a reactive tendency which will manifest itself as soon asthe pressure is removed. A pair of these members are placed within thecase with their recessed sides 8 opposed to each other and with what istermed their outer bearing-feet 11 and 12 seated against the inner faceof the wall of the case. Each member is now sprung back to bring theinner feet 9 and 10 of each member into opposition to the inner feet ofthe othermember, the result being that the two members thus become, ineffect, a single-cell structure having bearings against the inner wallof the case at four points-to wit, at the outer ends of each of thediagonal strips of each individual cell member. The effect of this willbe to form a springy structure capable of receiving a number of eggs andhaving a central chamber 15 defined by the opposed recesses S of thesections and a pair of outside chambers 16 and 17 defined between therear edge of each cell member and the contiguous portion of thecase-wall lying between the feet 11 and 12. It will now be seen that anysudden jar to which the case may be subjected will be taken up by theresiliency of the members, which will yield under the shock, but willquickly spring back to their normal positions. Thus the liability ofbreaking the eggs will be minimized, and, furthermore, they will beturned sufficiently to effect their preservation in a fresh condition bysuch jolts as the case will necessarily receive when being transportedin accordance with the ordinary usages of commerce.

There is another very important result accruing from the use of cellmembers in the manner specified, and that is that members of a standardsize maybe employed, notwithstanding the varying contour of thereceptacle or case, because the difference between the dimensions of thecase at various points will be compensated for by the chambers 15, 1G,and 17, which will be more or less contracted in order to cause themembers to fit a greater or less diameter, as the case may be.

In practice the members of each tier are disposed in right-angularrelation-that is to say, the chambers 15 of contiguous tiers will bedisposed in the line of right-angular diameters of the case; but this isnot absolutely essential and may or may not be resorted to, as desired.It will be observed that in the present embodiment of the invention theinherent resiliency of the cell members or eggholders is utilized tosecure such yielding of the egg cells or containers as will preventthedestruction of the eggs when the case is subjected to rough usage. It isevident, however, that instead of employing cell members ofthis'speeific nature they may be rendered sufficiently yielding byeffecting their connection to each other and to the case through themedium of springs or other reactive devices. The present embodiment ofthe invention is far preferable, however, for the reason that thevarious desirable objects of the invention are obtainable by a simpleand inexpensive adaptation of egg-holders of ordinary and inexpensiveconstruction.

From the foregoing it will be observed that there is produced a simple,inexpensive, and efficientshipping-crate foreggs orotherfragile freight;but while the present embodiment of the invention is probably bestadapted for its exploitation it is wished to reserve the right to effectsuch changes, modifications, and variations as may fall properly withinthe scope of the protection prayed.

What is claimed is v 1. A shipping-case provided with a cell memberhaving diagonally-disposed resilient strips extended beyond the body ofthe member and constituting bearing devices therefor.

52. A shipping-case provided with a pair of spaced cell members eachhaving a pair of diagonally-disposed resilient strips opposed at theirouter ends to the wall of the case and at their inner ends to the stripsof the other cell member.

3. A shipping-case provided with spaced cell members made up of twoseries of resilient strips in angular relation and fitted together tocollapse in one direction, one strip of each series of strips beingextended beyond the body of the member to constitute bearings therefor,the strips of each member being opposed at their inner ends to thestrips of the other member and at their outer ends to the wall of thecase.

4. The combination with a cylindrical shipping-case, of a pair ofcollapsible and resilient cell members in spaced relation to each otherand to the wall of the case and each member having a bearing against theother member and against the wall of the case.

5. A cell member for shipping-cases comprising a cellular body having anumber of cells defined by series of connected and angularly-relatedstrips certain of which are extended beyond the body and provided withbearing-feet.

6. A cell member for shipping-cases comprising a substantially oblongcellular body formed with a number of cells defined by resilientinterlocked diagonal strips extended beyond the body at the cornersthereof.

7. A cell member for shipping-cases comprising a substantially oblongcellular body having resilient diagonal strips extended between the endsthereof, said body being formed with a recntrant recess defined by saidstrips.

8. A cell member for shipping-cases comprising a cellular body made upof collapsibly-connected resilient strips and having diagonal stripsextended beyond the body and provided with bearing-feet, said cellmember being cut away at one side to define a V- shaped recess boundedby the diagonal strips at one side of their point of intersection.

9. The combination with a shipping-case, of a plurality of cell membersin spaced relation to each other and 'to the case, resilient bearingmembers intermediate of the cell members, and other bearing members bearing against the case.

10. The combination with a shipping-case, of a plurality of cell memberslocated Within the case and in spaced relation to the case and to eachother, and resilient strips constituting elements of the cell membersand bearing at their opposite ends against the wall of the case andagainst the contiguous end of a strip extending from the other cellmember.

. 11. The combination with a shipping-case, of a plurality of cellmembers therein, said members being in spaced relation to each other andto the case and made up of diagonally-related resilient strips, certainof the strips of each member having terminal bearings against the outerWall of the case and against a strip of the opposed cell member.

12. A cell member for shipping-cases, comprising a cellular body made upof collapsibly-connected resilient strips having diagonal stripsdefining, beyond one side of their intersection, a reentrant recessextending into the member.

13. A cell member for shipping-cases comprising a cellular body made upof connected resilient strips and having diagonal strips defining beyondone side of their intersection a reentrant recess extending into themember.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as the invention of BENJAMIN L.sworn I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses. c JESSIE S. SWOPE, Executrioc of the late Benjamin L. Swope,de-

ceased. Witnesses:

LIDA Sworn, RANDOLPH H. BLAIN.

